Valve having a seat cleaning feature



United States Patent 3,133,554 VALVE HAVlNG A SEAT CLEANING FEATURE .lohn .loehken, Milwaukee, Wis, assignor to Ladlsh Co., Cudahy, Win, a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Dec. 8, 1961, Ser. No. 157,903 2 Claims. (Cl. 137--240) This invention relates to improvements in valves having a seat cleaning feature, and more particularly to an improved valve especially designed for use in tanks or receptacles containing highly viscous media.

When draining or filling a tank containing liquid plastic, heavy slurries, or similar viscous media, it is difficult to keep the valve and its seat clean and in good Working condition because such viscous materials tend to accumulate and harden on the movable, interfitting valve parts,

thus impairing the positive engagement of the same and making it difiicult to obtain a leak-proof closure. For this reason, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a novel valve having means therein adapted to prevent such viscous materials from interfering with the positive closure of the valve.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel valve assemblage incorporating means for directing a purging agent, such as air or water under pressure, against the interfitting valve elements during the closing of said valve, and thereby preventing viscousmaterials from accumulating thereon.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a valve unit employing a pressurized purging agent to not only maintain the movable valve elements clean and free of slurries or the like as described, but also to insure movement of the viscous medium out of the valve body to prevent the material from accumulating therein and eventually clogging the discharge portion of .the valve bod A? further object is to provide a novel valvev assemblage as described which is simple and reliable in operation, and which is durable and long-lasting,

, Still further objects of the present invention are to provide a unitary valve and cleaning assemblage which can be readily mounted on existing tanks and containers, and which valve is relatively inexpensive in design and construction.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the improved valve, and all ofits parts and combinations, as set forth in the following specification and claims, and all equivalents thereof.

in the accompanying drawing, illustrating the preferred form of the invention, and wherein the same reference characters designate the same parts in all of the VieWSZ FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the improved valve in a closed position, and also illustrating, in broken lines, said valve in an open position;

FlG. 2 is a transverse sectional View adjacent the inlet end of the valve, taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FlG. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the valve, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1; 7

FIG. 4 is another transverse sectional view, taken along line 44 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the interfitting valve seat and head members just before the valve member is fully closed against its seat.

3,133,554 Patented May 19, 1964 'With more particular reference first to FIG. 1 of the drawing, it should be understood that while the valve is illustrated therein in a generally horizontal position said valve is usually mounted vertically on the underside of a tank or reservoir. In FIG. 1 the bottom of such a tank is designated by the numeral 10, said tank Wall having a circular aperture or opening 13 therethrough, and the valve assemblage comprises a cylindrical fitting 14 closely fitted within said tank opening 13, a valve plug 15 removably attached to the headed inner end of an elongated, longitudinally-movable stem 16, and a valve body 17 having stem supporting and actuating means and including an angled portion providing a conduit 18 through which the viscous material is intended to be discharged.

To mount the present valve on the tank, a ring-like clamp 11 ispositioned against the face of an annular flange 17' formed on the inner end portion of said valve body (the left hand side of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1 is referred to hereinafter as the inner end, and the opposite side as the outer end). A plurality of bolts 12 which project through bolt holes of said clamping ring have inner ends threaded into tapped holes in the under side of the tank 10, nuts 19 being threaded onto the outer ends of the bolts and tightened against the ring 11 to clampingly secure said valve in place. As will be readily appreciated, with this simple mounting arrangement it is possible to utilize the present improved valve assemblage with almost any tank or reservoir, it being merely necessary to provide tapped holes adjacent the discharge opening of the tank. It is to be understood that other mounting methods may be preferred for certain installations.

The valve fitting 14 is provided with a longitudinal bore 23, through which the product is adapted to pass, and with an annular flangeportion 14' which is designed to abut the outer surface of the tank wall 10. Asis shown in FIG. 1, said flange portion 14' has a plurality of circumferentially-spaced radial bores or ducts 20, the outer end portions of which are internally threaded, to permit the connection thereof of nozzles for water, compressed air, or the like, and said ducts are so designed that they become progressively narrower toward their inner ends. Communicating with said radial ducts 29 adjacent their inner ends are a plurality, of longitudinal ducts 21 which extend inwardly (toward the left in FIG. 1) to a point adjacent the inner end of the fitting 14. Said longitudinal ducts 21. are of a smaller diameter than the radial ducts 2.0 with which they communicate, and the inner portion of each of said ducts 21 communicates with a still smaller duct 22, the latter being generally radial but being angled outwardly to open in the relatively large counterbore 23' (FIGS. 1 and 5).

As will be noted, the outer ends of the aforementioned radial bores or ducts 22 and the outer ends of the longitudinal ducts 21 are closed by plug 22 and a sealing ring 25, respectively.

As best appears in FIG. 5, the valve fitting 14 has a relatively large diameter counterbore 23' which extends into the fitting past the point where the small radial duets 22 open into the same. Between the main bore 23 and the counterbore is an angled annular shoulder having an inner annular portion 25 forming the valve seat proper and having an outer portion which is oifset inwardly from the portion 25 to provide an annular purge gap 25'. There is also annular clearance between the counterbore 23' and the adjacent peripheral portion of the valve plug 15 to provide a purge gap 9.

With reference now to the particular design of the valve plug 15, it has a cylindrical body adapted to slide closely in the central bore 23 of the valve seat member, and is provided with a forward portion which is fiared outwardly at an angle, with an inner portion of said flare adapted to seat on the annular valve seat 25 when the valve is closed, the outer portion of the flare being a straight continuation to maintain the annular purge gap at 25. An enlarged disk portion at the forward end of said valve plug 15 is somewhat smaller in diameter than the corresponding counterbore 23, thus providing the purge space 9 when the valve is closed, as heretofore referred to.

As mentioned, the valve body 17 in the present invention is mounted adjacent and abutting the rearward face of the valve fitting 14, said body having an annular flange 17' clampingly retained against said seat member by the clamping ring 11. Said flange portion 17' of the body is provided with a plurality of radial bores or ducts 29 (FIGS. 1 and 4) which are angled downstream to communicate with the fluid passageway 18. A second series of ducts 30 may also be provided a short distance outwardly of said ducts 29. Like the ducts 20 in the fitting 14, and hereinabove described, said ducts 29 and 30 in the body preferably having internally threaded outer end portions.

It is contemplated that for some uses of the present valve it might be advantageous to have removable plugs for the above-described ducts in order to prevent the liquid product from leaking out during normal use when the valve is open, but inasmuch as the valve is ordinarily turned 90 from the position illustrated in FIG. 1, and since the liquid product is usually of a very heavy, thick consistency which does not flow readily, such plugs will not ordinarily be necessary and they have not been shown in the illustrated structure.

The valve body 17 is formed with an integral, angled discharge section 18 through which the plastic slurry or other product is intended to flow, usually by gravity, as described, and said body member also includes a straight, rearwardly projecting portion in which the valve rod 16 is slidably carried. The inner end of said rod 16 is detachably secured to the-valve plug 15, and the outer portion of said rod is threadingly engaged with the outer portion of a yoke, there being suitable means in said body to provide a leak-proof seal between said body and rod. In the illustrated form of the invention a hand wheel 28 is attached to the outer end of the rod whereby the valve plug 15 may be moved into and out of closing position.

In the use of the improved valve, when it is desired to discharge a quantity of plastic or other material from the tank, the valve is opened to the dot and dash position of FIG. 1.

It is during the closing operation that the novel ducts are utilized. The latter are connected, through suitable lines or hoses (not shown), to a source of water, compressed air or other fluid. The passageways provided by the communicating ducts 20, 21 and 22 in the fitting 14 are arranged to open into the purge gap 9 between said counterbore 23' and the end portion of the valve plug adjacent the engageable portions of said members (FIG. Thus, during the closing operation, and before the engagement of said valve members, the water, compressed air or other pressurized cleaning agent may be directed through said ducts and against the surfaces of said valve parts to purge the same of the viscous product. Purging fluid entering the ducts 20 is accelerated at the inner ends of said ducts because of the decreased diameter, and is again accelerated in the ducts 22 which are still smaller. This material under pressure is first discharged into the annular purge space 23 as the valve is closing. Due to the fact that the inclination of the ducts 22 is substantially the same as the angle of the tapered face adjacent the annular clearance gap 25', the fluid under pressure will then pass directly into the annular clearance gap 25' to remove viscous material from the same and will then pass over the seat portion 25 until the valve is finally closed. In FIG. 5 the valve is shown as nearly closed to indicate the clearance space over the valve seat 25. It is to be noted that the pressurized purging fluid is accelerated again in the spaces 25 and the space at 25 (FIG. 5). With this arrangement, by the time the valve becomes tightly engaged with its seat portion 25, the latter has been completely cleared of all viscous material or the like so that a tight closure is insured.

The ducts 29 and 30 in the valve body member 17 are also designed to discharge the purging agent at a high velocity and are positioned to direct the same at an angle in the direction of flow of the product as the latter flows out of the valve conduit 18. Said body member ducts are intended to insure the complete passage of the liquid plastic or the like out of said conduit, and to eliminate the possibility of the viscous liquid accumulating in and clogging said conduit.

In actual practice, it has been found that while water under pressure provides an excellent cleaning agent for many applications, other pressurized fluids, including air, are more suitable for use with some types of highly viscous slurries or liquid materials.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be seen that the present invention provides an improved valve for supply tanks, retorts, reactors, and other containers for viscous materials, which valve includes novel means adapted to prevent said viscous materials from interfering with the operation of said valve. Moreover, the present improved valve is simple and reliable in operation, is durable, and is relatively inexpensive in design and construction.

It is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the valve structure illustrated and hereinabove described without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes or modifications are contemplated as may come within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a valve having a body portion with a main bore and having a movable valve member with an enlarged disc portion, said body having a counter-bore outwardly of the body from the main bore adapted to receive said disc portion, an annular tapered shoulder between said main bore and counter-bore tapering in the direction of flow through the valve, the disc portion of the valve member having an annular tapered portion for coaction with said annular tapered shoulder, at least the inner annular portion of said tapered shoulder forming an annular valve seat and there being an annular purge chamber upstream of the seat tapered in the general direction of said seat, there being ducts in the body portion extending from the exterior into said purge chamber and having discharge portions inclined in a direction to discharge in the direction of taper of said shoulder toward the valve seat whereby a pressurized purging agent in said ducts will be directed into said purge chamber to keep the latter filled with a purging agent for constant discharge across all portions of the periphery of said valve seat portion of the shoulder and in the general direction of flow through the valve.

2. In a valve having a body portion with a main bore and having a movable valve member with an enlarged disc portion, said body having a counter-bore outwardly of the body from the main bore adapted to receive said disc portion, an annular tapered shoulder between said main bore and counter-bore tapering in the direction of flow through the valve, the disc portion of the valve member having an annular tapered portion for coaction with said annular tapered shoulder, the inner annular portion of said tapered shoulder forming an annular valve seat and the outer annular portion of the tapered shoulder being olfset inwardly to form an annular purge gap upstream of the seat tapered in the general direction of said seat, there being ducts in the body portion extending from the exterior and having discharge portions inclined in a direction to discharge in the direction of taper of said shoulder toward the purge gap whereby a pressurized purging agent in said ducts Will be directed into said purge gap to keep the latter filled with a purging agent for constant discharge from the purge gap across all portions of the periphery of said valve seat portion of the shoulder and in the general direction of flow through the valve, there being a thicker annular space between the annular tapered portion of the valve disc and the tapered shoulder at the purge gap than at the valve seat portion of the shoulder when the valve is close to closing position whereby flow of the purging agent is accelerated over the valve seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hansen Nov. 21, 1916 Jacobsen Nov. 4, 1930 Fox et al. Apr. 21, 1931 Tifft Aug. 23, 1932 Karrick Feb. 28, 1933 McInerney et a1 May 22, 1962 Loss May 22, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS France Jan. 9, 1930 France Apr. 13, 1931 

1. IN A VALVE HAVING A BODY PORTION WITH A MAIN BORE AND HAVING A MOVABLE VALVE MEMBER WITH AN ENLARGED DISC PORTION, SAID BODY HAVING A COUNTER-BORE OUTWARDLY OF THE BODY FROM THE MAIN BORE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID DISC PORTION, AN ANNULAR TAPERED SHOULDER BETWEEN SAID MAIN BORE AND COUNTER-BORE TAPERING IN THE DIRECTION OF FLOW THROUGH THE VALVE, THE DISC PORTION OF THE VALVE MEMBER HAVING AN ANNULAR TAPERED PORTION FOR COACTION WITH SAID ANNULAR TAPERED SHOULDER, AT LEAST THE INNER ANNULAR PORTION OF SAID TAPERED SHOULDER FORMING AN ANNULAR VALVE SEAT AND THERE BEING AN ANNULAR PURGE CHAMBER UPSTREAM OF THE SEAT TAPERED IN THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF SAID SEAT, THERE BEING DUCTS IN THE BODY PORTION EXTENDING FROM THE EXTERIOR INTO SAID PURGE CHAMBER AND HAVING DISCHARGE PORTIONS INCLINED IN A DIRECTION TO DISCHARGE IN THE DIRECTION OF TAPER OF SAID SHOULDER TOWARD THE VALVE SEAT WHEREBY A PRESSURIZED PURGING AGENT IN SAID DUCTS WILL BE DIRECTED INTO SAID PURGE CHAMBER TO KEEP THE LATTER FILLED WITH A PURGING AGENT FOR CONSTANT DISCHARGE ACROSS ALL PORTIONS OF THE PERIPHERY OF SAID VALVE SEAT PORTION OF THE SHOULDER AND IN THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF FLOW THROUGH THE VALVE. 